Paterson teachers win new contract

PATERSON — The district and the teachers union have agreed to a two-year contract, more than a year after the last one expired.

The new contract, approved by the Paterson Education Association last week, allows for union members who were supposed to move up one step on the salary guide last year to be paid retroactively. It also provides for a 4 percent increase in the total salary amount of the union's 3,435 members for this school year. The increase would be redistributed among the members, said Peter Tirri, president of the Paterson Education Association.

The Paterson Education Association's membership overwhelmingly approved the contract Sept. 9, after another round of negotiations last month between the district, the union and a fact-finder appointed to mediate the talks, Tirri said.

In a statement, Paterson district Superintendent Donnie W. Evans praised the union for "its spirit of collaboration and hard work."

"I am pleased that all parties put the interests of our students first," he said. "As we strive to improve student achievement in our schools, I look forward to the benefits of this important district partnership."

Tirri said the state education commissioner, Lucille E. Davy, approved the agreement.

School board President Errol Kerr said the board was not involved in the contract agreement. He said he was glad that a contract had been approved.

"This contract should have been settled two years ago," he said. "So I'm certainly happy that we've moved at least somewhat."

Willa Mae Taylor, another school board member, said she was unaware that the union approved the contract and declined to comment on it.

Tirri said that although he was satisfied with the new contract, he wanted one that wouldn't have expired in less than a year.

"We were certainly pleased that we were able to come to some agreement for last year and this year," Tirri said Friday. "Would I have preferred a longer settlement? Absolutely."

Tirri added, "It wasn't spectacular, but it was something we could live with."

Paterson teachers had been without a contract since the last one expired in June 2008.

The union had objected to the district's proposal for union members to contribute 1.5 percent of their salaries to help pay for their health benefits. Under the newly approved contract, teachers would continue to receive health benefits from the district at no charge.